President Bola Tinubu has appointed Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China strategic partnership, a key outcome of President Tinubu’s diplomatic engagement with China in early September.

This crucial appointment was announced on Sunday in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Mogaji Joseph Tegbe, a highly accomplished professional, graduated with first-class honors in civil engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in 1988. He is a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. His wealth of experience, spanning over 35 years, includes serving as a senior partner and head of advisory services at KPMG in Africa, overseeing strategic initiatives across the continent and the Middle East.

In his new role, he will report directly to President Tinubu and is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the various agreements reached between Nigeria and China. These agreements include expanding Nigeria’s rail network, upgrading power distribution infrastructure, creating new industrial parks, and establishing joint healthcare and education initiatives. In particular, the partnership aims to foster knowledge sharing in agriculture, vocational training, STEM education, and engineering technology.

One of his immediate responsibilities will be to submit a comprehensive strategic action plan that details specific deliverables, timelines, and key performance indicators for each area of cooperation. This plan is expected to align closely with Nigeria’s national development goals, ensuring that the country maximizes the benefits of the agreements made in Beijing.